Tag Archives: how to audition

You Stage Mom’s work tirelessly getting your kids ready for auditions. Running them to acting and dance classes, dressing them to look the part, and running lines. We KNOW how hard you work. That said, don’t get so lost in all the hubbub over getting your kid ready to wow the casting director that you forget that you are auditioning as well. Here are some tips to help both of you ace child’s audition:

Be Professional

Being professional means showing up on time, which of course means 15 minutes early. It means both you and your child are looking and feeling your best, butterflies aside. Things can happen on the way traffic, flat tires, getting lost- the list of events that can derail you is endless. Budget extra time.

Be Prepared

Have everything ready for the audition in advance. Run lines with your child before you get to the casting directors office. Bring your smart phone and your calendar (to make sure you don’t have conflicts for callbacks or shoot dates). Have extra copies of your child’s resume and headshots. Auditions often run late, so bring a discreet snack for your child to snack on if you end up sitting around for a long time.

Dress the Part

Your child should be dressed appropriately for the role they are playing. If you have questions about how that works check out Dressing The Part over at TheCastingDirector.tv. That said, remember YOU are playing a role as well. That is the role of the kind of parent who can manage their child, doesn’t get in the way, and isn’t a distraction or an impediment.

It’s Not About You Honey

Bring a book. Bring your knitting. Download that Angry Birds App for your phone, sister. Don’t sit there drilling lines with your kid until the second they walk into the room and then pounce on them the second they walk out. Don’t badger the receptionist for information that will give your kid an edge. Try to remember that this is about your kid following their own dream and doing something fun for them, and they are going to relax and audition better if you can be calm and relaxed. “The best advice I can give a parent is to treat acting just like all the other after school activities your child may have.” says Geralyn Flood, a casting director in Los Angeles. “They should come prepared and ready, just like they would for their piano or guitar lesson or recital, and they should be doing it because they get pleasure from performing.” Just pretend you’re at soccer practice.

Make no mistake, your child might be the one auditioning for the role, but YOU are on stage as well. Remember that.